Russia and Congo to cooperate in nuclear power

Rosatom and the Ministry of Scientific Research and Technological Innovations of the Republic of Congo have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.

Spassky and Maduka at the signing ceremony in Moscow (Image: Rosatom)

The document was signed yesterday in Moscow by the Russian state nuclear corporation's deputy director general for international relations, Nikolay Spassky, and the ambassador extraordinary and plenipotentiary of the Republic of the Congo in Russia, David Maduka.

The document establishes a legal basis for the implementation of bilateral cooperation in a wide range of areas, Rosatom said. These include the development of nuclear infrastructure in the Republic of Congo and programmes aimed at increased awareness of nuclear technologies and their applications, as well as the use of radioisotopes and radiation technologies in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, education and training of personnel.

The two sides have discussed the prospect of building a Centre for Nuclear Science and Technology with a Russian-designed research reactor in the African state. They aim to create joint expert working groups to start implementation of the MoU, Rosatom said.

The Republic of Congo has no nuclear energy facilities, but the neighbouring Democratic Republic of the Congo had two research reactors in operation. TRICO-I was in operation between 1959 and 1970 and TRICO-II between 1972 and 1992.

Researched and writtenby World Nuclear News